Addicted to Chaos
Our focus this week — Sep 10-16: “Harmony”
Today’s MotD: Addicted to Chaos. Who in on earth would want to be addicted to chaos ? And yet, some of us are in our own little way. And probably a lot of us are addicted without even realizing it. In an article on ZenKind, they posted a list of chaos addiction symptoms and a way to re-think them. See if any of these resonate:
- You feel restless when things are calm
- You create problems where none exist
- You thrive on crisis mode
- You attract dramatic relationships
- You overcommit and overwhelm yourself
- You mistake stress for productivity
- You replay dramatic stories often
- You struggle to relax without distraction
- You get bored with healthy relationships
- You always expect the worst
- You confuse intensity with connection
- You cling to drama in groups
- You struggle to trust peace
- You ignore the cost of constant tension
Several of these ring bells for me. And #7 reminds me of a story from when I was about 10. I took the initiative to dust and vacuum the main floor rooms and cleaned up the kitchen while my mother was out grocery shopping. When we (siblings) helped carry the groceries in and she settled for a bit, I asked her if she noticed the chores I did. She looked around and said “you left a glass in the sink”. Ouch…cue sound of soul crushing. The glass wasn’t even dirty, it was washed and drying in the dish rack.
I strongly believe, especially now as I’m writing about this topic, that I replay that story to this day. Here’s how it plays out: over time I allow a particular area to get messy (it varies as to where each time), then I spend a good chunk of time decluttering and cleaning up the space so it looks “perfect”. And for a short time (a month or two), it stays that way and then I start the loop all over again.
I’m realizing now that each time I “clean up” a space, on some deep level I’m seeking her approval. I’m thinking “maybe this time I will have gotten it right and she’ll tell me I did a great job”. The sad part is that it’s never going to happen or at least it’s never going to come from her. I need to take over the “mother” role and give myself (especially my 10-year-old self) the approval that I’ve (she has) been seeking. I am enough and what I do is good enough. I approve of myself.
How about you ? If you struggle with experiencing harmony in your life, is it possible that you’re addicted to chaos ? In looking at the list of symptoms, do any of these resonate ? If you had to choose, based on where you are with your inner life right now, which would you choose chaos or harmony ?
BTW…Here’s the before…the front and back view of today’s puzzle piece and the pretty ceramic box that holds all my numbers from which I randomly choose each day’s puzzle piece number:
Peace & Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
Creating Mandalas 🔆 Awakening Inner Harmony
ABOUT THE 2025 Mandalas of the Day
Throughout the year, I’ll be building one large (48”x48”) Tibetan-styled Mandala one piece at a time…one puzzle piece at a time, that is. The mandala design and the reversed puzzle side were printed on artist-quality watercolor paper. The forward facing puzzle side was printed on a 48”x48” wood panel.
Each day, at random, I’ll be painting in watercolors one of the 365 watercolor puzzle pieces, that by the end of the year will become Archangel Mandala #4. Read more about the Archangel Series. The word/message for each piece will be inspired by Melody Beattie’s book “52 Weeks of Conscious Contact”.
Ultimately, the message of this mandala is about how we are all uniquely part of the one.
Mandala of the Day 